Glaucoma Drops & Eyelash Growth

Glaucoma is a condition where damage occurs to the optic nerve, which sends visual information from the eye to the brain. This damage can often be lessened by reducing the pressure inside the eye. There are a number of different prescription eyedrops available which help to reduce the eye pressure. One of the more popular categories of eyedrops for glaucoma is known as prostaglandin analogs, which have a side effect of increasing eyelash growth in many users. Recently, one of the glaucoma drugs was reformulated into a new prescription to be applied to the eyelashes directly.

Glaucoma Progression

• Glaucoma is a disease where vision is reduced due to nerve damage in the back of the eye. This nerve damage is usually caused by a combination of poor blood supply and increased eye pressure. Without treatment, the disease progresses and vision is lost, first peripherally and eventually totally.

Glaucoma Treatment

• The current mode of treatment for glaucoma involves reducing the pressure inside the eye to reduce damage to the optic nerve. This is usually accomplished via drug therapy, though in some instances surgery can be performed as well. There are a number of different classes of drugs used to reduce eye pressure, such as prostaglandin analogs, beta blockers, alpha agonists and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.

Prostaglandin Analogs

• One of the most popular categories of prescription eyedrops used to treat glaucoma is known as prostaglandin analogs. There are three prostaglandin analogs currently on the market: Xalatan (latanoprost), Travatan (travoprost) and Lumigan (bimatoprost). The prostaglandin analogs lower the pressure inside of the eye by increasing the outflow of the aqueous humor, the liquid inside the eye.

Side Effects of Prostaglandin Analogs

• One of the most common side effects of the prostaglandin analogs is an increase in the length, number and especially thickness of the eyelashes of users of the medications. Other common side effects are darkening of eye color and darkening of the eyelid skin.

Latisse

• In order to capitalize on the fact that the medication results in longer, thicker and more numerous eyelashes, bimatoprost has been released in a prescription that is applied directly to the eyelashes themselves. This medication is known as Latisse.

Talk to Your Eye Doctor

• If you have glaucoma or are interested in a prescription that would give you fuller eyelashes, talk to your eye doctor.